Trump Fired The FBI Chief. Now An FBI Veteran Is Hired To Probe The Trump Team

One week after President Donald Trump fired the head of the FBI and raised fears about the future of the agency’s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, the Department of Justice has appointed a widely admired former FBI director to lead an independent inquiry.

In March 2004, Attorney General John Ashcroft was in intensive care when White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales and Chief of Staff Andrew Card rushed to the hospital to persuade Ashcroft to renew Bush’s domestic wiretapping operation, which the Department of Justice had just declared illegal. Comey, then deputy attorney general, learned of the ploy, and he and FBI Director Mueller raced to arrive at Ashcroft’s room first. Comey stood by as Ashcroft roused himself and refused to sign the reauthorization.

Mueller was the longest-serving head of the bureau since J. Edgar Hoover, holding the position for 12 years. The 2001 George W. Bush appointee was set to step down in 2011 but was asked to stay on by President Barack Obama, despite the position’s 10-year term. Obama asked Congress to allow the extension to lend some continuity as new leaders came aboard at the Pentagon and the CIA.

His appointment by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to lead the investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 presidential election was met with support from those of various political stripes.

Brian Fallon, press secretary for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, said the WilmerHale connection to Ivanka Trump and her husband does not “shake” his confidence in Mueller.

This is fair to point out, but does not shake confidence in Mueller. Country can trust in his independence.https://t.co/nhAnszOCni

As special counsel, Mueller will have all the authority of a U.S. attorney to conduct his investigation. He has significant autonomy, able to choose members of his team and the degree to whichto consult the Justice Department on his progress. He answers only to the deputy attorney general.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from involvement in the Russia investigation because of his own contact with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the Trump campaign.

Democrats have been urging the appointment of a special counsel since Trump fired Comey last week. Those calls grew louder as a number of bombshell news reports emerged raising questions about Trump’s dealings with Russia and Comey.

Trump Fired The FBI Chief. Now An FBI Veteran Is Hired To Probe The Trump Team

Donald Trump Meets With Russian Officials

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak during talks with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not in picture) in the Oval Office at the White House.&nbsp;